Ashlin Govender, father of Keith Govender, holds placards outside the Chatsworth Magistrate’s Court.
Image: Yoshini Perumal
ON FRIDAY, in the Chatsworth Magistrate’s Court, it was revealed that delays in obtaining crucial medical reports from RK Khan Hospital, the post mortem and the DNA analysis from the alleged murder weapon were hindering the murder investigation.
Keith Govender’s family gathered in protest outside the Chatsworth Magistrate’s Court on Friday, as his alleged killer appeared.
Govender, 22, was allegedly stabbed by his friend Mahendra Ramadrah, 46, during a friendly game of thunee, at a pool hall in Silverglen, on January 30.
He died in hospital on March 12.
Charges against Ramadrah were changed from attempted murder to murder last month.
Mahendra Ramadrah in the Chatsworth Magistrate’s Court on Friday.
Image: Yoshini Perumal
Ramadrah, a father of one and a car parts salesman, appeared in the Chatsworth Magistrate’s Court earlier today (Friday)
State prosecutor Thamandri Kengan-Narainsamy told the court that RK Khan had not yet furnished the State with the medical reports, required to finalise the investigations.
“The post mortem report has not been finalised. We have obtained the medical reports obtained from Chatsmed Hospital. At some stage prior to his demise, the victim was transferred to RK Khan Hospital.
“RK Khan Hospital is giving a bit of a hassle to obtain the reports, and we are still waiting for the reports from them,” Kengan-Narainsamy said.
She told the court that the State was also still waiting for the analysis of the DNA results in respect of the murder weapon.
The case was adjourned to July.
Keith Govender’s father Ashlen Govender, his aunts Lilly Govender and Maliga Moonsamy, and his neighbour Queenie Pillay, were a part of a placard demonstration calling for justice for Govender.
Image: Yoshini Perumal
Govender’s father, Ashlin Govender, told POST outside court that they were struggling to cope with the long wait for justice.
He said the health of both him and his wife Sabitha had deteriorated since Govender’s death.
“This is a long wait. We have not been contacted by police with updates, and we feel like we are kept in the dark as to what is happening.
“This has been a difficult time for us. We cannot sleep, and just eat to survive. We hope that the investigations are finalised and that RK Khan Hospital provides the relevant documents so that the case can move ahead.
“My son was just 22 years old and he was taken away from us by someone who was supposed to be a father figure to him. Our family is destroyed by Keith’s death.
“Every day is difficult. It is a nightmare,” Ashlin said.
Ramadrah was released on R1 000 bail on February 11.
At the start of his bail application in February, he told the court that he intended pleading not guilty.
He said he acted in self-defence.